5 Basketball Shooting Drills: How to Practice Shooting

Basketball coaches can help teams improve shooting by including shooting drills in practices and workouts. While shooting is one of the commonly practiced basketball fundamentals, a varied playbook of drills helps players improve their versatility and overall skill level, whether they’re playing youth basketball or professional basketball. Consider the following drills:

1. 1. Left-to-right shooting drill: This is an excellent drill for beginners and NBA professionals alike. One player stands under the net, just before the baseline. The other player stands at the left elbow (the left edge of the free-throw line). At the coach’s signal, the second player sprints to the right elbow, receives a pass from the first player, gets into a shooting position, and makes a shot. The players then switch positions and continue the drill for a set amount of time. Having the players do a jump shot is a good variation.
2. 2. Speed shooting drill: This drill is good practice for players to shoot accurately while tired and helps develop good ball handling. Have the players line up in groups of two along the baseline. Each lead player sprints the length of the court, takes a shot at the opposite basket, rebounds the shot, sprints back to the original side, and then takes a three-point shot. After rebounding this shot, they pass it to the next player in their line, who completes the drill. Coaches can adjust the distance for shooting, having the players pull up at midrange instead of the three-point line.
3. 3. Pressure jump shot drill: Shooting under pressure is essential for basketball players. One player stands under the basket in this drill, while the other stands somewhere in the medium shot range. At the coach’s command, the first player passes it to the shooter, who gets into proper shooting position for a jump shot. The first player immediately charges the second, trying to distract and disrupt the shot but not block it. The players then switch and continue for a set amount of reps. Incorporating shot fakes can help the shooter get a little extra free space.
4. 4. Weave layups drill: This drill incorporates dribbling, fast passes, and footwork. Three groups line up along half court. The front three sprint forward, and the middle player passes to the player running down the left wing, who passes it to the right-wing player, who takes a layup. The middle player gets the rebound, passes to the outlet player (the left-wing player, who has crossed to the other side of the key), who passes it to the next center player.
5. 5. Handoff shooting drill: This drill helps players improve their handoffs, an essential skill. Two lines form at the top of the key, one on each wing. At the top of the key, the players dribble to the basket while the other players start toward the baseline. As the first players approach, the second players abruptly change direction, sprinting back toward the wing, receiving the handoffs from the first player, and making a layup or jump shot. The shooters get the rebound, then dribble to the top of the key, on the opposite side of the one they started. Repeat until all the players have rotated through the positions.

Shooting drills allow basketball teams to work on shooting as a collective unit while also improving the abilities of individual players. Incorporating shooting drills into practices can be of great benefit to your team’s development, helping players with:

1. 1. Proper technique: The best shooters maintain proper shooting form even amidst the high pressure and fast pace of basketball games. Make sure the players make deliberate, controlled shots with correct hand position and follow through.
2. 2. Integration: Many shooting drills incorporate other basketball fundamentals, such as dribbling, passing, and sprinting. This helps players learn to shoot quickly but in a controlled, focused way necessary to succeed at game speed.
3. 3. Warm-up: Most of these drills work your full body, which is excellent for getting the blood moving and the muscles warm. As with many other exercises, coaches can incorporate shooting drills into the team’s warm-up.

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